Container filling machine



2 Sheets-Sheet l J. M. I-I'cla'rI-IERsALI.

CONTAINER FILLING MACHINE Filed sept. 24, 193e N I Q R im @N MN WW m E o IQ. m m N w a) m IQ NN WHII Q IQ N m Nm/ my. I.II v wn I WN Q. I V I?% n I U u @I IMQ I N WWN\ L I N I MI. I A ww m 5 I Sw I NN IIQ .Q Sv I II Q I m\ NN I m\ I m\!*| N U .|I II I .Q N/ IIII III I II Il. NY/ I. l Ik MIN -I IW.|I .IIII IMINYIQ. HHII I I mIMw II Il I'IIIH. III Il. III IH IIII III wh. IIII. I www wIf III .INI IIH IWWMM IH IIII IIM n Mlm@ II II I\\ HIII IIIH IQ wMIIU. IIIIII IIIH \I\I WW HIIIHI ww .IIHII IH II III IM mw I Q N I n mn u I III@ ,NI I IWW I @I I@ m@ I IW W .mw Ik m@ N I I k. um KM ww NN I NN .m DHI Imm mm JWM mw II w @I IN.

Jan. 24, 1'1939.

Jan. 24, 1939. J. M. HoTHERsALL CONTAINER FILLING MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept.' '34,r 1956 ATTORNEYSA Patented Jan. 24, 1,939 y UNITED STATES PATENToFFicE CONTAINER FILLING MACHINE John M. Hothersall, Brooklyn, N. Y., assigner to American Can Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New Jersey Application September 24, 1936, Serial No. 102,413

8 Claims. (Cl. 226-97) The present invention relates to container or taken substantially along the lines 6-6 and 1-1 can filling machines and has particular reference in Fig. 2; and

to devices for measuring out a predetermined Figs. 8 and 9 are enlarged horizontal sections of charge of liquid and for filling the measured a lling head taken substantially along the lines charge vinto a can through a discharge orice 8-8 and 9--9 in Fig. 1. 5

which during the filling operation is maintained A preferred embodiment of the instant invenat a level slightly below the surface level of the tion which is disclosed in the drawings is incorliquid as the latter rises in the can so that the kporated in a well known type of multiple head llliquid. will flow into the can gently and quietly ing machine fOr filling liquids ntO eens SU-Ch as 10 without agitation or foaming. The machine is for example, the machine shown in United States l0 particularly adapted for lling effervescent liquids Patent 1,523,607, issued January 20, 1925, to F. W. and beverages such as beer into containers, but is Prael on Filling machine". Only sufclent of equally susceptible of use when filling any desired such a lling machine is illustrated herein to imliquid into suitable containers. part a' clear understanding of the relation of the An object of the invention is the provision of a invention to the machine and to show, the coop- 15 machine for filling liquids into cans wherein the eration between aSSOCiated DertS- v liquid prior to filling is measured out into a meas- Such a diSClOSure embodies ef Cylindrical tank uring element which is introduced into the can for or reservoir II (Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, 6 and 7) adapted the filling operation, the measured charge of liqto contain a filling liquid I2 which is to be filled uid being discharged through an orice which is into cans I4. The reservoir is supported and con- 20 constantly maintained by a receding movement tinuously rotated in any Suitable manner Within between measuring element and can at a level e Cylindrical hOUSing l5 Which may bea part 0f slightlybelow the surface level of the liquid as it the main frame of the filling machine rises in the can so that the liquid will now gently Filling of the liquid I2 into a can I4 is accomand quietly without agitation or foaming. DliShed by Way 0f en elengated tubular filling 25 Another object is the provision of such a nll-l head or nozzle I1 which depends from a bottom ing machine wherein the measuring element is as- Well I8 0f the IeSeiVOil ll- The 1'10ZZ1e iS Secured sociated with a nozzle having an orifice and also in place by Screws I9 Which extend through en an adjacent part which cooperates with a pluoutwardly bent ange 2| formed on the nozzle at rality of members in two valve functions, one of itS upper edge, the SCIeWS being threaded into the. 30 which is for segregating a, measured Charge 0f reservoir bottom wall. A gasket 22 is preferably liquid in the measuring element in close proxinterposed between nance and bottom wall to preimity to the orince of the nozzle and the other vent leakage of the liquid at thel'oint- Comfor effecting discharge of this segregated charge munioation is provided between reservoir and of liquid into a can to be lled at the proper nOZZle by Way 0f en Opening 24 formed inthe res- 35 time and this Without undue agitation Offoaming ervoir bottom wall in concentric alignment with of the1iquid V the vertical axis or center line of the nozzle so Numerous other objects and advantages of th that lfheiquid can pass into the nozzle.,- invention will be apparent as it is better under- A hquld dlscharge valve unit is provlded in the 40 stood from the following description which v discharge of the liquid. This end of the nozzle a'rlgl; cdoirsllsnawgefdacgg is formed with an inverted conical wall section 21 th f having a liquid discharge port or orifice 28 disereo posedv concentric with the axis of the nozzle. Rfeferrmg to the drawings Opening and closing of the orifice to control the 45 Figures 1 2 3 and 4 are fragmentary Vertical discharge of the liquid is effected by a lift valve sectional views of principal parts of a can illling 3| disposed inside the nozzle and which Seats machine embodying the instant invention the against a gasket 32 secured to the inner face of various views showing dilerent positions of llthe conical Wall section 21 A depending pro.. 5o ins head parts end a can during the llirlg of the jeetion 3s formed on the bottom of the valve 5o latter. extends into the discharge orice 28 and pro- Fig. 5 is a 'schematic vieW illustrating a detrudes below the end of the nozzle. veloped layout of a cam for operating certain The valve 3| is formed on the lower end of a valve devices embodiedin the lling head; vertical rod or valve stem 35 which extends up Figs. 6 and 7 are enlarged horizontal sections through the center of the nozzle Hand canies a "f lower or discharge end of the nozzle I'I to permit 40 the nozzle.

f stem for this purpose.

cam .roller 36 which is rotatably mounted on its upper end. The valve is moved vertically to open the orice 28 at the proper time by cooperation of its cam roller 36 with a stationary continuous ring cam 31. Cam 31 is secured to the inside of the main frame housing I5y above the reservoir.

Collars 38 are pinned to the upper end of the rod and loosely hold the roller 35 in -place thereon. This roller is provided with a V-shaped guiding surface 39 which engages against a tapered cam track 4| (see also Fig. 5) formed in the cam 31 and which holds the Valve 3| seated against the gasket 32 until time for opening, as will be hereinafter explained.

Provision is made for measuring out and for segregating a predetermined charge of the liquid contained in the nozzle |1 and the reservoir preparatory .to opening the lift valve 3|. For this purpose a vertically movable tubular casing or measuring element 44 enclosing a measuring chamber 45 is disposed partly in the nozzle and partly in the reservoir below the level of the liquid |2. The lower portion of the casing extends into the nozzle and comprises a vertically disposed cylindrical wall section 46. This wall section terminates at its lower edge in an inwardly turned flange 41 constituting a valve member which in one vertical position of the measuring element is adapted to engage the nozzle valve seat gasket 32 adjacent the'valve 3|. The bottom of the measuring element adjacent the valve flange is open.

'Ihe exterior surface of the measuring element wall section' 46 is formed with a plurality of vertical ribs 48 (in Fig. 8) which slide on the inside surface of the nozzle when the element is moved vertically. These ribs serve as guides for keeping the measuring element centrally located in A bearing 5| disposed inside this part of the measuring element and supported by spider arms 52 connected with the wall section 46 serves as a guide for the lower end of the valve rod 35.

The Aupper portion of the measuring element where it is disposed in the reservoir has its casing wall section 46 merged into a ilared wall section 55 (Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4) which extends up into a vertical wall section 56 forming an enlarged portion of the measuring chambernat the top ofthe casing. The top of the casing is closed by a cap 51 which is threadedly secured to the section 56.

A casing guide stern 58 is formed on the cap 51 and its longitudinal center corresponds with and has vertical movement along the longitudinal center line of the measuring element 44. This stem is supported in a capped split bearing 59 (seealso Figs. 6 and 7) which is formed in a ring 6| secured by screws 62 to the top edge of the reservoir A feather 63 fastened in the side of the stem prevents the measuring element from turning in the nozzle during its vertical movement. 'I'hls stem also guides the upper end of the valve rod 35, a bore 64 being provided in the A feather 65 in the valve rod prevents its turning.

Vertical movement of the measuring element .44 in one direction is effected at theproper time to cause a predetermined quantity of the liquid in the reservoir and the nozzle to iiow into the measuring chamber, and in the opposite direction to segregate or trap the liquid so that only this measured quantity will be discharged into a can |4 when the valve 3| is opened. This movement of the measuring element is accomplished by cam action operating through the medium of a roller 1| (Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4) which is mounted on the guide stem 58. The roller engages within a cam track 12 (see also Fig. 5) formed in the stationary ring cam 31.

Thus as the reservoir is rotated through its cycle the cam track 12 acts on the roller 1| to rst raise the measuring element 44 so that its lower valve flange 41 separates from the valve seat gasket 32 as shown in Fig. l. Liquid then iiows into the measuring chamber 45 through the open bottom of the element. A vent conduit 14 formed in the cap guide stem 58 and leading from the chamber to the atmosphere above the surface level of the liquid in the reservoir permits the liquid to completely iill the measuring chamber and rise in the vent conduit to the level of the reservoir liquid.

This construction of measuring element and the manner of lling from the bottom insures that the liquid will enter quietly and smoothly Without any agitation. It also permits filling without foaming of liquids which otherwise readily foam when slightly agitated. These characteristics insure accurate measurement of the liquid.

When the measuring chamber 45 is iilled the cam track 12 then acts on the roller 1| to lower the measuring element vinto its original position where its valve ange 41 is brought into tight sealing engagement against the valve seat gasket 32 as shown in Fig. 2. This valve seating cuts oi communication between the measuring chamber and the surrounding liquid in nozzle and reservoir, thereby segregating the liquid in the chamber. This completes the measuring and segregating operation.

A can |4 to be filled with the liquid thus segregated. is supported on a lifter pad 15 (Figs. l, 2, 3, 4, 8 and 9) disposed under the nozzle |1, the can being placed on the pad in any suitable manner such as for example, in the manner disclosed in thev patent hereinbefore mentioned. A can centralizing ring 16 secured to the top of the lifter pad locates and holds the positioned can in vertical and axial alignment with the nozzle.

The lifter pad 15, after receiving a can, is raised vertically by cam action to bring the can into a position where it telescopically surrounds the nozzle |1, the nozzle extending into the can. lFor this purpose the lifter pad is provided with a cam roller 18 which engages within a cam track 19 of a stationary continuous ring cam 6| secured to the inside surface of the main frame housing I5. Thus as the lifter pad is carried around with ythe rotation of the reservoir the cam acts on the roller 18 to raise and lower the lifter pad at the proper time. f

Raising of the lifter pad 15 from its lowest position as shown in Fig. 1 to its highest position as shown in Fig. 2 takes place in a short arcof travel along the cam. At thevhighest position o1 the lifter pad the 'can entirely surrounds the nozzle. The length of the. nozzle is proportioned so 'that in this position of the lifter pad the discharge end of the nozzle will almost engage against the bottom of the can, only a slight space intervening between them.

During this lifting movement and as the can approaches .its highest position the valve 3| is partially opened to permit the segregated charge of liquid in the measuring chamber 45 to begin to flow into thecan. The valve cam roller 36 'runs of! its cam track 4I and into a recess 64 (Figs. 2, 5 and 6) wh'ere it is unconfined. At this time the bottom of the can engages against the projection 33 of the valve 3| and lifts the valve away from its seat gasket 32. This partly opens the nozzle orice 28 and permits the liquid to begin to flow slowly and gently into the can.

If no can is present on the lifter pad 15 when the latter is being moved into this highest position, there being no can bottom wall to engage the valve projection 33, the latter enters into a recess 86 (Fig. 2) formed in the top of the lifter pad. The valve 3| therefore remains in its lowered or closed position. This provision prevents accidental discharge and waste of the liquid.

When a can has initially raised the valve 3|,

as previously described, there is a further opening of the valve and a holding of it in the full open position independently of the can. The initial opening of the valve by engagement with the can raises the cam roller 36 in the recess 84 and brings the roller into horizontal alignment with an elevated V-shaped cam groove 88 formed in the cam 31. The guiding surface 39 of the cam roller enters this groove, as the roller is carried forward by movement rf the reservoir and is thereby acted upon to further lift the valve rod 35 so that the projection 33 is disengagedfrom the can bottom. The cam groove 88 supports the Valve rod in this raised and full open position during the filling operation. This permits the liquid to ow into the can at a faster rate of speed.

Prior to disengagement of the valve projection and can bottom the liquid has flowed into the can so slowly that the orifice end of the nozzle is barely submerged below the surface level of the liquid. This position of the orice relative to the liquid level in the can is thereupon maintained throughout the lling operation so that the accurately measured charge of liquid will be transierred into the can with a minimum of agitation and foaming.

In order to maintain this relation between the nozzle discharge oriiice and the level 'of the liquid ceding movement is eected by the cam track 19 of the cam 8| and the end of the nozzle |1 having the orifice 28 is kept at a level approximately one-eighth of an inch below the surface level oi the liquid as it rises in the can (see Fig. 3).

When the full measured charge of liquid in the measuring chamber is transferred into the can, the cam 8|v further lowers the can so that it is clear of the nozzle as shown n Fig. 4. At this time the valve cam roller 36 is directed by the cam groove 8B down and back into the cam track 4 This lowers the valve 3| and hence closes the discharge orifice 28.. The parts are now returned to their first positions and the measuring element may again be raised and lled for another filling cycle and for a succeeding can.

It should be understood that the lling operation is performed continuously asthe reservoir is rotated Within the main frame housing I5. There are a plurality of these filling head units and can 'lifter pads arranged in a circle relative to the reservoir, as suggested in Fig. 6. toffully cooperate in filling cansl as they are successively moved into the machine and placed on the lifter pads, only one of these units being herein described and exvarious changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the form hereinbefore described being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

I claim:

1. In a machine for lling liquid into containers, the combination of a reservoir for the liquid, a nozzle for said reservoir, avalve in said nozzle for effecting discharge of the liquid into a container, said valve having a part extending within the container to the bottom thereof and adapted to be initially opened by said container, instrumentalities for further opening said valve and for holdlng it in such open position independently of the container, a support for the container, and means for bringing the support and the nozzle together thereby moving the container into liquid receiving position telescopically surrounding the nozzle and for effecting a receding movement between the supported container and the nozzle at a speed proportionate to the rate of ow of the liquid into the container, such receding movement keeping the discharge end of the nozzle slightly below the surface level of the liquid in the container as it iills thereby preventing agitation of the liquid While lling.

2. In a machine for filling liquid into containcrs, the combination of a reservoir for the liquid, a nozzle for said reservoir and having a discharge orifice for dispensing the liquid into a positioned container, a movable measuring element having an apertured seat, mechanism for moving said measuring element relative to said nozzle into a pcstion to cause liquid to flow into it 'and for moving it into another position where said aperiurcd seat engages against said nozzle adjacent its discharge opening to seal oi the measuring element and to segregate a measured charge of liquid contained therein, a valve in said nozzle discharge orifice for closing the same, said valve be'ng operable into a partially open position by engagement of a part thereof with a container l located thereunder to receive the measured charge of ,liquide and instrumentalities for further and fully opening said valve and for holding it in such full open position.

3. In a machine for filling liquid into containersthe combination of a nozzle, a measuring element located inside of and having axial movement within said nozzle and adapted to receive and segregate a liquid for filling, and a valve located inside of said measuring element and having axial movement relative to both element and nozzle, said valve when in open position permitting discharge of the measured quantity of liquid from said measuring element.

4. In a machine for lling liquid into containers, the combination of a nozzle for the liquid, said nozzle having an inner valve seat, a valve located within said nozzle for engaging said nozmeasured quantity of liquid in the measuring element, and means for opening said valve to discharge the measured quantity of liquid from said measuring element.

5. In a machine for lling liquid into containers, the combination of a reservoir for the liquid, a nozzle in communication with said reservoir for dispensingliquid into a container, said nozzle having an inner valve seat, a valve located within said nozzle for engaging said nozzlevalve seat to close the nozzle outlet, a measuring element also located within said nozzle and having axial movement therein, said element having an aperture through which liquid flows into the measuring element from said reservoir, means for moving said element into engagement with the valve seat of said nozzle to close said aperture and cut oi flow of liquid into said element thereby segregatinga measured quantity o1' liquid from the liquid in` said reservoir, and means for moving said valve from said nozzle seat to discharge the measured quantity of liquid from said measuring element.

6. In a machine for illling liquid into containers, the combination of a nozzle adapted to be disposed within a container for dispensing liquid therein, a valve located within and movable on the longitudinal center of said nozzle for preventing passage of liquid from nozzle to container when in valve closing position, a measuring element also located within said nozzle and having axial movement thereinv into different positions, said element having an aperture through which liquid ilows into the measuring element when in one of its positions, means for moving said element to close said aperture and cut oil the now of liquid thereby segregating a measured quantity of liquid in the measuring element, and means for opening said valve to discharge said measured quantity of liquid into the container.

7. In a machine for iilling liquid into containers, the combination of a reservoir for the liquid, a nozzle for said reservoir, a valve in said nozzle i'or opening and closing the latter, a movable measuring element immersed in and located below the level of the liquid in said reservoir and in alignment with said nozzle and having an apertured seat, said element having venting connection with the space above the liquid in said reservoir, mechanism for moving said measuring element to provide for ow of liquid from said reservoir through said apertured seat during venting of air from the interior oi said element and also for bringing said apertured seat into sealing engagement with said nozzle adjacent said valve thereby segregating a measured quantity of liquid in the measuring element, and means for opening said valve to cause discharge of the said measured charge oi.' liquid.

8. In a machine for filling liquid into containersl the combination of a reservoir for the liquid, a nozzle in communication with said reservoir for dispensing liquid into a container, said nozzle having an inner valve seat, a measuring element immersed in and located below the level of the liquid in said reservoir and within said nozzle and having axial movement therein, said element having an aperture through which liquid ilows from the reservoir into the said element when the latter is out of engagement with said nozzle valve seat, means for moving said measuring element into engagement with said nozzle valve seat to cut off the now of liquid therein thereby segregating a measured quantity of liquid in the measuring element, a support for the container, means for bringing the container into position surrounding said nozzle so that the latter is inserted into said container, avvalve located inside of said measuring element and having axial movement relative to said element and said nozzle for opening and closing the nozzle, one position of the valve being in engagement with said nozzle valve seat during passage of the liquid into said measuring element and another position of said valve as when out of engagement with said valve seat permitting discharge of the measured quantity of liquid from said measuring element into said container, and means for eiecting a receding movement between the supported container and the nozzle at a speed proportionate to the discharge rate of liquid into the container.

JOHN M. HOTHERSALL, 

